The first South American Tour action of 2018 takes place in Nova Viçosa, with Juliana Felisberta (picture) teaming up with Andressa Ramalho for the first time.

Lausanne, Switzerland, January 19, 2018 – Brazil’s teams will be out to make their mark when the South American Beach Volleyball Tour begins on their home sand in Nova Vicosa, Brazil.

The tournament starts on Friday and runs through till Sunday.

The home nation will be represented by seven pairs in the women’s draw and five in the men’s. Maria Clara Salgado and Carol Horta, and Juliana Felisberta and Andressa Ramalho will both play their first tournament as pairs.

“We trained for the first time as a team on Monday, here in Rio de Janeiro,” Maria Clara said. “Carol Horta is a very good player, and we have the chance to evolve as a team.

“We have the challenge of living in different cities, but we train together whenever possible. We want to make our mark in the South American Tour, and we are happy to represent Brazil.”

Among the seven Brazilian men’s teams Athens 2004 Olympic champion Ricardo Santos shows no sign of slowing down, and he will team up with George Wanderley in Nova Vicosa.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to play again in Bahia,” Ricardo said. “My last event in my state took place in 2015. I was playing with Emanuel Rego and we won that tournament to become Tour champions.

“I’m playing with George for the first time, and he is a very promising player having won U19 and U21 World Championships.”

French Guyana will be represented for the first time on the South American Tour, and there are teams from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela.

The 2018 South American Tour features six tournaments that culminate in the South American Tour Finals in April.

The second round takes places from February 9 to 11 in Rosario, Argentina. For the full calendar, click here.